Islamic laws in Iran forbid dancing, although many people dance during family gatherings in their homes. Even using the word “dance” is forbidden in all media platforms and publications in all sorts in Iran.
It's illegal for women to dance in public in Iran, but the video has inspired others across the country to post similar videos with the same song, in a potentially dangerous act of open defiance toward the regime.
Religious prohibition to dancing waxed and waned over the years, but after the Iranian Revolution in 1979 dancing was no longer allowed due to its frequent mixing of the sexes. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 was the end of a successful era for dancing and the art of ballet in Iran.
“Ekbatan girls, whose dance video went global, after being warned by the judiciary, they were detained for 2 days. Now, a forced confession has been taken from them and it has been uploaded on the page of dance instructor Khanom Mitra,” the post reads.
Religious prohibition to dancing waxed and waned over the years, but after the Iranian Revolution in 1979 dancing was no longer allowed due to its frequent mixing of the sexes. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 was the end of a successful era for dancing and the art of ballet in Iran.
Hip hop music is not considered a legitimate artform by Iran's authorities. All forms of music were banned shortly after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. While this decision has since been partially reversed, the Iranian government continues to crack down on music that it considers harmful.
A singer must be trained for years and have continuous practice to reach a level where they can perform on stage. After years of hard work, if a professional female singer, who is a master at singing, wants to perform in Iran, in order to get a permit, other male and female singers must be invited to accompany her.
Authorities forced the women to record and release a video of apology while wearing their hijabs. According to a tweet by a local news outlet in Ekbatan, the town where the girls live, the women were forced to say they had made a “mistake” and forced to sign a statement saying they will never repeat their actions.
In November 2021, Iran passed the Rejuvenation of the Population and Support of Family law, which restricted women's rights to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
New Delhi: The anti-hijab protests in Iran got the support of Iranian actress Elnaaz Norouzi on Tuesday as she came forward and joined the stir against government clampdown. Extending show of support to Iranian women in their fight, the actress took to social media handles and stripped her clothes.
The experts recalled that under the current version of Iran's Islamic Penal Code, any act deemed “offensive” to public decency is punishable by 10 days to two months in prison or 74 lashes. Women seen in public without a veil could be sentenced to between 10 days and two months in prison or a fine.
10-year prison sentence for public dancers
In November 2022, An Iranian couple, Astiyazh Haghighi and her fiancé, Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, both in their early 20s, received prison sentences of more than 10 years after appearing in a video where they danced in front of an iconic Tehran landmark.
The sticky theological question for the country's Shiite clerics was whether the rhythmic movements of Zumba, an aerobics fad that originated in Colombia, are best classified as dancing or exercise. Authorities have apparently decided that they are aimed at “pleasure seeking,” which makes them haram.
After the 1979 revolution in Iran, the new Islamic laws enforced women to have Hijab outside. Since then Iranian women wear hijab in public places. Also, international visitors are required to dress like residents of Iran.
Tourists in Iran feel such affection well. A search on the internet can show you many tourists' experiences of the Iranians' kindness. Iranian people are so friendly to tourists, and their kindness even increases when they become your hosts.
What is this? While many women in Iran adhere to the hijab based on their personal beliefs, all women must cover their hair with a headscarf. Since this is enforced, you must follow as a visitor. My tip is to bring one headscarf with you and enjoy shopping for more at local markets.
For years, girls' education has been an accepted and fairly ordinary part of life in Iran. Since 2011, women have outnumbered men on university campuses; the World Bank says that female literacy rose from 26% in 1976, before the Islamic Revolution, to 85% in 2021.
Persia is today the country of Iran. By the 5th century B.C.E., it was the largest empire the world had ever seen, surpassing the size of their Assyrian predecessors.
The permission to marry an Iranian woman with a foreign man is issued by the Iranian Interior Ministry and no marriage contractor, without this special permission, has the right to file a foreigner's marriage with Iranian nationals in these cases.
Why did Tasia Alexis Hussey go to prison? In one recent TikTok, Tasia shared that she became a felon at the age of 17. Now, many people who are interested in Tasia Alexis are wondering what she did time for.
Charli D'Amelio
She broke her own record when she later reached 100 million followers. This young American is one of the most popular female TikTok dancers. For over 10 years, Charli trained and danced competitively.
For observant Muslim women, the head covering is a sign of piety before God and modesty in front of men outside their families. In Iran, the hijab — and the all-encompassing black chador worn by some — has long been a political symbol as well.
Iran is a safe destination for solo travelers, although it's important to be aware of the local customs and laws, especially for women. Solo female travelers may experience some discrimination, and it is important to dress modestly and cover the head and hair with a scarf.
Adultery and sex outside out of marriage are illegal under Iranian law and carry the death penalty. Relationships between non-Muslim men and Muslim women are illegal, although few Westerners have been prosecuted. If a Muslim woman is found in a relationship with a non-Muslim man, she may be sentenced to be whipped.
After the Islamic Revolution, western music was banned in Iran.